My Sunday Thought for 040818: I Just Shake My Head... and Smile

"I am wiser than this man, for neither of us appears to know anything great and good; but he fancies he knows something, although he knows nothing; whereas I, as I do not know anything, so I do not fancy I do. In this trifling particular, then, I appear to be wiser than he, because I do not fancy I know what I do not know."

-- The Socratic Paradox

Wisdom or intelligence, which would you prefer?  I know, and have known, many "intelligent" people, few of which had wisdom worth acknowledging.  Intelligence is certainly no indicator of good sense, and to find folks with both is so uncommon as to bode the question as to whether the two are, indeed, mutually exclusive.  I have reached the point in my life where intelligence with good sense has become a "Holy Grail" to be sought in others.  This quest is tempered with the sad realization it will rarely be found.  When intelligence comes into any discussion, I just shake my head... and smile.  Wisdom is usually left at the door.

Intelligence and I are strange bedfellows.  I was an average student and my teachers attributed this to a lack of focus.  By the same token, I rarely cracked a book during the first two years of psychology and pulled down a 3.2 grade average.  I enjoyed college, so maybe I wasn't focused before then because my teachers were not engaged at whatever level I was playing in.  For better or worse, this "lack of focus" seems to be an inherited trait.  Whether it is a curse or blessing will depend on who has it, more than what "flavor of the month" medical science hangs on it or the "patient" living with it.  It depends much, however, on what each person does with their focus when, or if, they discover it. 

Two Buddhist monks were arguing about a flag flapping in the wind.  “It’s the wind that is really moving,” stated the first one.  “No, it is the flag that is moving,” contended the second.  A third interrupted them.  “Neither the flag nor the wind is moving,” he said, “It is MIND that is moving.”

-- Zen Buddhism

Do I wish for more intelligence than I have?  Why?  To what end?  And the question presupposes that I actually have intelligence to begin with, a subject often debated hotly at my local watering hole. A popular prayer written by American theologian Reinhold Niebuhr (1892-1971) explains my view best, "God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference."  If I am to be blessed with more of something, let it be wisdom.  As a matter of fact, people in general could use more wisdom in their lives.  Wisdom is something few are taught, fewer grasp, yet fewer exercise, and even fewer recognize.  Wisdom is something we are all endowed with and it usually, paradoxically, takes second seat to intelligence.  I have found wisdom in the most unlikely of people, which makes a logical kind of sense.  If you're unlikely to find something, then look for it in the most unlikely places.

Have you ever listened to children dying from cancer?  If you are interested in some sage wisdom, these children are amazing.  Isn't this odd, though, that the only great sage advice comes from dying children and the elderly.  I think the rest of us are holding on much too tightly to what we think is important in life.  The children don't have a clue yet, and the elderly have been there, done that, and generally weren't impressed.  As it turns out, the only thing important in life is... now.  Sadly it takes most of us our entire lives to understand this simple concept.

Word spread across the countryside about the wise Holy Man who lived in a small house atop the mountain. A man from the village decided to make the long and difficult journey to visit him. When he arrived at the house, he saw an old servant inside who greeted him at the door. 

“I would like to see the wise Holy Man,” he said to the servant. The servant smiled and led him inside. As they walked through the house, the man from the village looked eagerly around the house, anticipating his encounter with the Holy Man. Before he knew it, he had been led to the back door and escorted outside. He stopped and turned to the servant, “But I want to see the Holy Man!” 

“You already have,” said the old man. “Everyone you may meet in life, even if they appear plain and insignificant… see each of them as a wise Holy Man. If you do this, then whatever problem you brought here today will be solved.”

-- Zen Buddhism

If you have wisdom, I think it is incumbent upon you to impart that wisdom to others.  If you have no wisdom, what have you been doing with your life?  Of what use is intelligence if you have no wisdom with which to guide it?  Having dabbled in Zen for a time, I try to look at everyone as "a wise Holy Man" until they open their pie hole and prove me wrong.  

We tend to spend most of life exercising a total lack of wisdom.  We can see this play out in the news each and every day.  People are taught to defy authority.  People are taught to defy authority by watching those in authority defy authority.  They will continue to defy authority until they need that authority, and then they will scream bloody murder because they can't get support from those in authority.  "Sanctuary cities" are a prime example of cutting off your nose to spite your face.  How's the wisdom of that debacle working out for their law abiding citizens, the ones who haven't been killed by the violent criminals they protect at the risk of those same law abiding citizens?  The fact that this insanity plays out in places like California never surprises me; I grew up there and I'm glad I left.  I still shake my head at the continuing stupidity of it all.

How about raising the minimum wage?  Ask the people who wanted this, and got it, how that lack of wisdom worked out for them.  If you raise wages where does the money come from?  Businesses have to lay off workers to pay the workers who are left.  Those who lose jobs may have to go on unemployment or welfare, and someone has to pay for that.  The workers who get a raise may no longer qualify for government aid, and might just meet the next higher tax bracket.  Higher wages also mean higher prices; you might make 15% more, but you'll spend 25% more for the privilege of waiting in line for that "fast food" hamburger because there's now only one cook on the line.  

Raising the minimum wage is simply paying off the workers who lack the wisdom to see through the bullshit.  Thinking this will, in any way, help the economy is faulty logic.  Instead of working to get rid of unions, lawyers, and other issues which drive the cost of consumer goods through the roof, issues and protections which are also now covered by legal and Constitutional means, we raise wages so people can afford better lives which, in turn, cost more because of the higher wages.  It doesn't take a rocket scientist to understand basic economics, but it does take a bit of wisdom to put the blame where it belongs... and then own it.  I tend to shake my head and smile whenever I hear the ignorance of people wanting to raise their minimum wage and not understanding how it will, and  therefore won't, be paid for. 

Nothing is free, and if they tell you it is, remember that nothing is free.  I suppose the exceptions would be free thought and free religion, though many religions even make you pay for the privilege of worship.  I think I'll just continue to have faith.  You still have the ability to think for free, just learn to keep most of it to yourself or always be prepared for an assault by the League of the Perpetually Offended.

A hermit was meditating by a river when a young man interrupted him. “Master, I wish to become your disciple,” said the man. “Why?” replied the hermit. The young man thought for a moment. “Because I want to find God.”

The master jumped up, grabbed him by the scruff of his neck, dragged him into the river, and plunged his head under water. After holding him there for a minute, with him kicking and struggling to free himself, the master finally pulled him up out of the river. The young man coughed up water and gasped to get his breath. When he eventually quieted down, the master spoke. “Tell me, what did you want most of all when you were under water.”

“Air!” answered the man.

“Very well,” said the master. “Go home and come back to me when you want God as much as you just wanted air.”

-- Zen Buddhism

In the 1880s sculptor Auguste Rodin conceived "The Poet" as a central figure in his work "The Gates of Hell" at the Musée Rodin.  It has since come to be called "The Thinker," though I personally like the "The Poet" more.  Whenever I envision someone in thought, a chimpanzee comes to mind.  I always wonder what deep philosophical thoughts are going through their minds, or if it all centers on scratching their butt.   "What is the meaning of life?  Why am I here?  Is there a God?  I think I'll scratch my butt."  I'm not sure what this says about wisdom, intelligence, or lack thereof, but it does make me shake my head and smile as I continue to consider the human condition.  Maybe I'll scratch my butt.

How about you?  What are your thoughts on wisdom?  I bet you saw the chimp, shook your head... and smiled.  Wisdom is funny that way.

Editor's Note

(Re: disclaimer cum "get out of jail free" card)

Before you go getting your panties in a bunch, it is essential to understand that this is just an opinion site and, as such, can be subjected to scrutiny by anyone with a differing opinion. It doesn't make either opinion any more right or wrong than the other. An opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form opinions of their own, if they haven't already done so. This is also why, occasionally, I will present an "opinion" just to stir an emotional pot. Where it may sound like I agree with the statements made, I'm more interested in getting others to consider another viewpoint. 

It is my fervent hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions and while engaging in peaceful and constructive discussion in an arena of mutual respect concerning those opinions put forth. After over twenty years with military intelligence, I have come to believe engaging each other in this manner and in this arena is the way we will learn tolerance and respect for differing beliefs, cultures, and viewpoints.

We all fall from grace, some more often than others; it is part of being human. God's test for us is what we learn from the experience, and what we do afterward.

Pastor Tony spent 23 years with United States Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, instructor, and senior manager. He spent 17 years, following his service career, working with a world renowned Institutional Review Board helping to protect the rights of human subjects in pharmaceutical research. Ordained 1n 2013 as an "interfaith" minister, he founded the Congregation for Religious Tolerance in response to intolerance shown by Christians toward peaceful Islam. As the weapon for his war on intolerance he chose the pen, to wage his "battle" in the guise of the Congregation's official online blog, The Path, of which he is both author and editor. "The Path" offers a vehicle for commentary and guidance concerning one's own personal, spiritual, path toward peace and the final destination for us all. He currently resides in Pass Christian, Mississippi, where he volunteers as lead Chaplain and Chaplain Program Liaison, at the regional medical center.